51From John Adams to Richard Rush, 13 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
I Shall certainly comply with your Wishes, expressed in your favour of 31st Octr. The Correspondence between your Father and me has been for forty years together too intimate and too free, to See the Light at present. I have Letters from Dr Rush that would demonstrate his Patriotism, his Virtue, his Piety his Genius his Learning his Benevolenc his Generosity his Charity and at the Same time...
52From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 13 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
I perceive you are growing Old, by the Curiosity you express to your Mother, to know Something of your Origin . My Fathers Mother was Hannah Bass; My Mothers Mother was Ann White a Daughter of Benjamin White, the Proprietor of Whites Hill in Brookline, a proud Son of Massachusetts Liberty, though an intimate Freind of Governor Dudley, as I have been informed by Richard Dana the Father of Chief...
53From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 7 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
I like this prompt and quick correspondences, I have received your Sons acknowledgement dated the 6th of my letter to you of the 5th. Your Sons letter has greatly obliged me and I cordially wish him success but he has proposed to me a plan that would increase, my already established reputation for Vanity and Egotism to a mountain as high as blue hill, Wachusett or Monadnock. Before any...
54From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 5 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
Though your Son is engaged in an honourable and a laudable pursuit, I apprehend he is not quite aware of all the embarrassments in his way. his objects are the literature and the history of his country. I will pass by the first for the present and confine myself to the second There were two pivots upon which the American revolution turned, These were The controversy between Governor Hutchinson...
55From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 4 November 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of Oct. 14 has greatly obliged me. Tracys Analysis, I have read once; and wish to read it a Second time. It shall be returned to you. But I wish to be informed whether this Gentleman is of that Family of Tracys with which the Marquis La Fayette is connected by intermarriages? I have read not only the Analysis, but Eight Volumes out of 12 of The Origine de tous les Cultes, and if...
56John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 4 November 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of Oct. 14 has greatly obliged me. Tracy s A a n alysis, I have read once; and wish to read it a Second time. It Shall be returned to you. But I wish to be informed whether this Gentleman is of that Family of Tracy s with which the Marquis La Fayette is connected by intermariages.? I have read, not only the Analysis, but Eight Volumes out of 12 of The origine de tous les Cultes,...
57From John Adams to Henry Colman, 28 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Basanists might have gone farther. he might upon the same principles & with the same arguments have produced a greater number of candidate for apotheosis. By the doctrine of Rome, and of England, the king eternal, immortal, & invisible, the only wise God that is the holy Ghost was communicated to his Apostles by the Son of God, or God the Son, & by them, transmitted down from St. Justin and...
58From John Adams to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 25 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
A Lieutenant of the Navy under Commodore Bainbridge on board the Independence, is in a tender state of health, & thinks this climate is too severe for his Constitution in its present condition, he therefore ardently wishes to be ordered to some ship in the Mediterranean. If there is no national vessel Ship going there he would take passage in a Merchant Vessel. Though I have personal reasons...
59From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 23 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter of the 16th. would occupy me for 12 months, when I know not that I have 12 days to live. The Outlines of the Life I shall be happy to receive. Basanistes is a Jeu d’Esprit. There is nothing new in it. It is only like viewing Boston Harbour from Weymouth great Hill by a Man who had often Seen it from Bacon Hill. The Same “ Analysis of Investigation ,” might be applied to prove that...
60From John Adams to James Madison, 22 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Thank you for your favour of the 12th. The Anecdote mentioned in my Letter of the 4th of September, is of no consequence to the Public, though, it may interest the private Feelings of your Family and mine. Mr Stodert was my Auther. After all possibility of thinking seriously on the Subject was passed, Mr Stodert informed me of the Letter from Mrs Madison to Mr Steel mentioned in mine to you of...
61To James Madison from John Adams, 22 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
Thank you for your favour of the 12th. The Anecdote mentioned in my Letter of the 4th of September is of no Consequence to the Public, though, it may interest the private Feelings of your Family and mine. Mr Stodert was my Auther. After all possibility of thinking Seriously on the Subject was passed, Mr Stodert informed me of the Letter from Mrs Madison to Mr Steel mentioned in mine to you of...
62From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 11 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have a great Mind, to rattle with you in your own Way, in your Letter of July 18th— Do you know that a Mob, is the most powerfull and irresistable Army in the Universe? I can prove it. The Scotch Highlanders in several Rebellions, The People of La Vendée, but above all the Conquest of the Bastille, are full Proofs. No Phalanxes, No Legions no Regulars, no Legitimates have ever equaled Such...
63From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 7 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your kind favour of the 27th. of Septr. has greatly obliged me. The Will of your Uncle has not Surprised me. I have known his Mind more than forty years ago. I believed him insane “quoad hoc,” at that time, as much as I do now. There was a Sense of Integrity and Benevolence and Humanity in him, united with the Wild Vagaries of a Monk and a Miser. A more curious Character is not to be found in...
64From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
The Seconds of Life, that remain to me, are So few and So Short; (and they seem to me Shorter and Shorter every minute) that I cannot Stand upon Epistolary Ettiquette: And though I have written two Letters, yet unnoticed I must write a third. Because I am not acquainted with any Man on this Side of Montecello, who can give me any Information upon Subjects that I am now analysing and...
65John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 30 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The Seconds of Life, that remain to me, are So few and So Short; (and they Seem to me Shorter and Shorter every minute) that I cannot Stand upon Epistolary Ettiquette: And though I have written two Letters , yet unnoticed I must write a third. Because I am not acquainted with any Man on this Side of Montecello , who can give me any Information upon Subjects that I am now analysing and...
66From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 25 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
In my letter of yesterday—I forgot to answer your question concerning Marmontels thoughts of writing on American affairs. Marmontel had been appointed by the King—Histiographer of France, while I was there. I suppose that thinking—the the Duties of his office would require him to write on the connection between this country France & America & hearing of my letter to De Mably—desired to see it....
67From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 24 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 22d, & the French translation of my letter with Mably’s, & Marmontels original billets, which I lent to your father. You are welcome to publish the whole or any part of my Letters to your father & the papers I sent him—You may insert them in your own way & I have no objection to your stating that they came from your & y’r fathers & your Grandfathers / friend...
68From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 23 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I pray you to send me a Book whose Title is ΑΙΡΕΣΕΩΝ ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΙΣ : A New Way of deciding Old Controversies By Basanistes. Third Edition enlarged Ridentem dicere verum quid vetat Hor. London Printed for J. Johnson & Co. St. Pauls Church Yard. 1815. If there has been any Subsequent Edition Send me that. But above all let me intreat you to read it. If you can inform me Who wrote it, or is Suspected...
69From John Adams to James Maury, 22 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind letter of July 30th, and the Quarterly review enclosed with it, & for all your obliging remembrances of me, & civilities to my children & friends. I had forgotten the first volume, which you say I presented to you in 1787: but as you remember it so well, I pray to you to accept the 2nd. and 3rd which I wish you may remember as long. not indeed for any great value that...
70From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 22 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
The mail of yesterday, brought me your favour of the 19th I presume you had not then received my little packet of the 17th containing little notes in the hand writing of De Mably and Marmontell. You Sir and your Son have my consent to do what you please with all my letters only excepting a request, that you would return to me the original notes from De Mably and Marmontel and their French...
71From John Adams to Richard Rush, 20 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have recd. a Letter from Dr Maese, requesting of me, Letters of your Father for Publication. I have collected a few, ancienct and modern: But if you consider that I have recd Letters from him in Philadelphia, New York, Braintree, Quincy, France Holland and England; You must percieve the difficulty of Searching Old Trunks for a Chain of Correspondence for forty years I have already found...
72From John Adams to Ward Nicholas Boylston, 19 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have long meditated to write you a Line. You are giving annual Bounties, for Medical Essays which Nobody reads; No Body thanks you; Nobody learns any Thing from all your Care and expence. Let me advise you to alter your Plan. Offer Premiums or Premia, for Dissertations on natural History. Not at large, for that Subject is infinite. But upon the Civilization, the Policy, the Legislation and...
73From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 17 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
As in your favour of the fifth, you seem to regret “the Intermission of our Correspondence, your Renewall of it, may cost you more than you expected, namely a Surfeit of it. I wrote you on the 9th. a little Volume, upon a frivolous Anecdote of the voluminous Baron De Grimm, which he has himself corrected in a Subsequent Period of his own Correspondence. As I find this Mystery is circulating in...
74From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 16 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Do you think Basanistes, would bear Publication in this Country? Would an Edition of it, do good or harm? Tucker is an Oddity, like Tristram Shandy. His Metaphyicks would give no more Satisfaction, than Edwards, Priestly, Soame Jennings, Frederick the Great D’Alembert, His Morals are excellent but not new. His mundane Soul his Vehicular State, and his Vision, are a pretty Romance on the...
75From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 14 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Some of those publications, which in France, as you very well know, are called foreign Gazettes & journals, announced to the world in 1782 that the Congress of the United States of America had directed Dr Franklin, and Mr Adams to request the Abby de Mably to furnish them with a plan, or a code of laws for their future government. By whom so ridiculous a fiction was imagined, and how it found...
76From John Adams to William Tudor, Sr., 9 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your kind Letter of the fifth—of this month—which—our meritorious friend Mr. Shaw, put into my hand, yesterday, I had before seen the paragraph in the Daily Advertiser— The Baron De Greishm—himself, in a subsequent vol—Sufficiently explains, and confutes the Error—of the rumour which had been propagated, I know not by whom in 1782—. You will find at the End of the first Vol—of...
77From John Adams, 9 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
George, John, Charles! You See there was Religion in Athens, as there has been in all Nations and will be, and ought to be, however absurd ridiculous or horrible in Some. Bless God, that You were born under one, which if you will take Pains to understand it, in its Symplicity, Sincerity and Truth will console you more than all the Philosophy or Religion of ancient or modern Nations. MHi :...
78From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 9 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have now gone through Terence, and noted a few Lines for you to consider. Many perhaps have escaped my Notice that deserved it MHi : Adams Papers.
79From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 5 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Noon Mr and Mrs. De Wint, arrived, in 48 hours from New York. They dined in that City on Monday and dined with me on Wednesday. Such is the facility and rapidity of Communication which Steam Boats Packetts and turnpikes have introduced. They presented to me the first of my great grandchildren that I have Seen of the four that have been given to me, one of whom has been taken away,...
80From John Adams to James Madison, 4 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
I have So often taken the Liberty to introduce Gentlemen to The President of The United States, that tho’ it might be an usurpation at first, it Seems now to be a kind of Right by Prescription. Upon no Occasion that I recollect, have I assumed this Priviledge with more pleasure than in now introducing Dr James Freeman whom I esteem one of our first litterary Characters and one of the best of...
81To James Madison from John Adams, 4 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have so often taken the liberty to introduce Gentlemen to the President of the United States, that tho’ it might be an usurpation at first, it seems now to be a kind of Right by Prescription. Upon no occasion that I recollect, have I assumed this priviledge with more pleasure than in now introducing Dr James Freeman whom I esteem one of our first litterary characters and one of the best of...
82From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 September 1816 (Adams Papers)
Dr James Freeman, is a learned, ingenious, honest and benevolent Man, who wishes to see President Jefferson, and request me to introduce him. If you would introduce Some of your Friends to me, I could with more confidence introduce mine to you. He is a Christian, but not a Pythagorean a Platonick or a Philonick Christian. You will ken him and he will ken you: but you may depend, he will never...
83John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 3 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
D r James Freeman , is a learned, ingenious, honest and benevolent Man, who wishes to See President Jefferson , and requests me to introduce him. If you would introduce Some of your Friends to me, I could with more confidence introduce mine to You. He is a Christian, but not a Pythagorian a Platonick or a Philonick Christian. You will ken him and he will ken You: but you may depend, he will...
84From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 28 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
This is Commencement Day, at Harvard Colledge or in more magnificent Language at The University at Cambridge . But whether you call it Colledge or University, I hope you will one day Study there and take your Degrees there. I have recd your Letter of June 23d. Charles! have you left your Genius frozen in Russia? You was celebrated in Petersburg, and from thence in America, as a Smart Boy. This...
85From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 27 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I received your Letter of May 29th. Some days past; and yesterday Mr and Mrs. Tarbell called upon Us to our great Surprise, We never having had the least intimation or Suspicion of their Arrival. Their Account of our Three Boys is the most particular and the most pleasing We have ever heard. They are really delighted with the behaviour of you all. And I am not less gratified with your Letter....
86From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
Your No. 50. 29th. May is before me. You wisely persevere in your habitual accuracy, and I hope will compell your Sons to follow your Example. I have been So long incapable of Observing my rules that I know not the number of this Letter, or any other that I have written for many Years. I regret this Negligence I repent of it; and wish my Posterity, to follow Your Example and avoid mine. Yours...
87From John Adams to John Adams Smith, 25 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of 26 June. Your Phylanthropic sentiments are very agreeable to me: but remember they are no more than Terinus “Homo Sum ” and that was only a Translation from the still more ancient Greek of Menander. The English and American Republicans must not flatter themselves that they have discovered any thing new. All their “Liberty Equality and Fraternity” is summarily...
88From John Adams to James Mease, 24 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
A letter of the 8th of August from Dr Mease has revived many recollections of conversations at Bush Hill, and at the Corner of Arch Street and Fourth Street. Though I know not how you could have conceived a project more victorious or more patriotic, than the publication of Dr: Rushes Letters: Yet I shudder at the thought. A complete collection of Dr: Rushes letters never will be published, or...
89From John Adams to Stephen Miller, 23 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening Mr: Apthrop put into my hand your polite Letter of the first of this Month from New York. Your civil Apology for writing to me was unnecessary: because I hope I should always be ready to communicate any information in my possession in furtherance of Justice; and especially to a Gentleman whose Father and Grandfather Uncle and various Relations I have known and respected from my...
90From John Adams to François Adriaan Van der Kemp, 14 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
Thanks for your third of Aug.—Griefs upon Griefs! Disappointments upon Disappointments! All is Vanity! What then? This is a gay, merry World, notwithstanding. Pray! Can you tell me What are The Uses of Grief .? And will you tell me What are the Abuses of Grief ? Grief exists, to a tremendous degree. So much is certain. But can you tell me, what it is good for? And what it is bad for? For every...
91From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 10 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I see little in this Play but the Manners of the Atheanians and The Naivete et Nettite du Style. The Miseries of Domestick Life; when all Confidence is wanting: between Parents and Children Masters and Servants, Friends and Neighbours, Husbands and Wives, Lovers and Mistresses; are held Up to View in a Mirror. Such Morals are surely no better than those of London or Boston, Paris or New York....
92From John Adams to John Adams, 10 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I culled a Few Flowers for George from The Andrian. I have done the Same for you here from the Step Mother, and will do the Like Soon for Charles. I Sent Georges by Mr Thatcher. A. John! Your Father and your Grandfather can attest upon Oath to a Similar Voyage in 1778. John! The Case of the Step Mother here is the Case of your Grandfather! Meditate a little upon it. MHi : Adams Papers.
93From John Adams to Charles Francis Adams, 10 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
Do you See, in these Plays of Terence, which are the Translations from Menander, the Character of the Athenians? Are not the Slaves Superior Beings to the Citizens? Every Smart Expression; every brilliant Image, every Moral Sentiment is in the Mouth of a Slave. To be Sure, however, Masters and Slaves are nearly on a Level, in Principles of Conduct. MHi : Adams Papers. {{Included with...
94From John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
The Biography of Mr Vander Kemp would require a Volume which I could not write if a Milion were offered me as a Reward for the Work. After a learned and Scientific Education he entered the Army in Holland and served as a Captain, with Reputation: but loving Books more than Arms he resigned his Commission and became a Preacher. My acquaintance with him commenced at Leyden in 1780. He was then...
95John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 9 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The Biography of M r Vander Kemp would require a Volume which I could not write if a Mil l ion were offered me as a Reward for the Work. After a learned and Scientific Education he entered the Army in Holland and Served as a Captain, with Reputation: but loving Books more than Arms he resigned his Commission and became a Preacher. My Acquaintance with him commenced at Leyden in 1780. He was...
96From John Adams to George Washington Adams, 6 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
I desire to know, which of the Characters in the Andrian you was appointed to represent at the Exhibition: and whether your performance was to your own Satisfaction of that of any body else? The Six Plays of Terrence are Valuable 1. For the Purity Simplicity, Perspicuity, Precision and Concision of the Style, that is the Latinity. 2. For the Information they contain, of the Laws, Customs and...
97From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 4 August 1816 (Adams Papers)
This Letter is to be honoured by the Reverend Samuel Cooper Thatcher, the Son of The Reverend Dr Peter Thatcher of Brattle Street and the Grandson of Oxenbridge Thatcher Esqr Barister at Law One of the most intimate confidential and beloved Friends I ever had one of the four first rate Lawyers, Gridley, Pratt, Otis and Thatcher who recommended me to the Court in Boston in 1758 when I was Sworn...
98From John Adams to John Adams, 31 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
I find upon my table this morning your favour of the 7. March; and I know not whether I have ever answered it. I approve of your “eating and Sleeping and living together; of your playing Football, Crickett; running, climbinge, leaping Swimming, Skateing; and have no great Objection to your play at Marbles. These are good for your Health: but what do you do for your Mind? The Mind is of more...
99From John Adams to Horatio Gates Spafford, 26 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
I thank thee, for thy kind congratulations on my Health. There is no Man who wishes the return of my Son So much as myself. But whenever he returns it will puzzle him, as much as it did his Father, to know what to do with himself. It may also Somewhat perplex his Country: but She will give herself very little trouble about him. The American Accademy, has done honour to thee and to itself, by...
100From John Adams to John Quincy Adams, 26 July 1816 (Adams Papers)
In the last Week I have attended the House of Mourning and the house of Feasting. on Thursday I attended as a Paulholder the Funeral of Madam Lincoln the Relict of my ancient Friend General Lincoln Your Mother, Your Cousin Louisa and your Niece Miss Susan, attended Us. We drank Tea at Mr Colmans the Successor of Gay and Ware, in company with Judge Davis Colonel May &c. The Judge told Us what I...